The new machine, revealed at the Frankfurt motor show ahead of going on sale early in 2020, is based on the A7 Sportback , and serves as a sister model to the recently revealed RS6 Avant It uses the same powertrain as that model, with a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 fitted with a 48V mild-hybrid unit to produce 591bhp and 590lb ft. That results in a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds, with a limited top speed of 155mph, or 189mph with the optional Dynamic Plus pack.
The Interior
Inside, Audi has fitted a pair of leather sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and buyers get the choice of two design packages to add some color. Two new driving modes, called RS1 and RS2, appear for the first time and allow the drivers to create two configurable modes that can be accessed at the touch of a button. There are unique RS displays for the Virtual Cockpit and infotainment screens, and new Audi Sport puddle lamps too. Outside, housing with white 3157 led bulb for foglight and taillight.
The Powertrain
We still can’t tell for sure which powertrain Audi is going to employ in the 2020 RS7; the German carmaker will most likely use the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that’s also found in models like the Porsche Panamera Turbo and Lamborghini Urus, with the power output to be set at over 600hp. If that’s the case, then an eight-speed automatic transmission will be tasked with sending the colossal power to all four wheels to the upgraded Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
The Standard
Also standard is the Audi virtual cockpit to display engine torque, tire pressure, oil temperature, boost pressure, acceleration, g-forces, and lap times. You even get a shift light to tell you when to engage the next gear before the engine reaches the redline. The 2020 Audi RS7 is a luxury car you can bring to the track, and all these gadgets are proof of that.
Just like any other updated model, the 2020 Audi A6 has also received a handful of changes. However, the highlight of the show is the new hybrid engine. The new A6 is powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged engine which is coupled with a 12V electric motor. The total power and torque output of the 2020 A6 is 245 PS and 370 Nm respectively. The transmission here is a super slick 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Drivetrain
As with the RS6 Avant, the drivetrain for the RS7 Sportback is pretty serious stuff, with a twin-turbo V8 developing 592 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. Plus, there’s more tech devoted to handling than we might typically expect from Audi. The RS7 can be had with the standard RS adaptive air suspension or an optional sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control that should help sharpen things up.
All of this from a car has space shuttle-like build quality and design nous in and out to belie its dated origins. Sadly, it comes with a $17k price rise, but the RS7 Performance can wear a tuxedo and mind it is Ps and Qs, yet can rock out in the performance mosh pit like its 1999